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Following Matthew Perry's passing, his "devastated" friends and coworkers released a joint statement.



Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, and Matthew Perry, a costar and "family" member, are discussed about his passing.

Friends actors Matthew Perry's cast members have opened up about his untimely death.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer released a joint statement to PEOPLE on Monday expressing how quickly they were grieving his loss and promising to honour him further at a later time.

"Matthew's passing has devastated us all deeply. On the show, we were more than simply coworkers. They remarked, "We are one big family." "There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."

"In time we will say more, as and when we are able," the group continued. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."

The Friends star drowned, apparently, and died over the weekend at his Los Angeles home. As soon as word of the actor's passing broke, social media was quickly flooded with condolences for the actor, whose life and work had influenced millions of people worldwide. Most of the posts were written by colleagues who had worked with Perry over the years.

He was 54.

Apple to pay $838 million for infringing CalTech's WiFi patents.

The California Institute of Technology (CalTech) has won a $1.1 billion jury verdict against Apple and Broadcom, according to Reuters and other sources. In a case that first hit federal courts in 2016, CalTech accused Apple of using Broadcom WiFi chips that violate four of its patents in all iPhones, starting around 2012. The jury reportedly ordered Apple alone to pay $838 million, or about $1.40 per device -- which works out to about 598 million gadgets that used the infringing chips. 
Apple told Reuters that it plans to appeal, having previously said that it was merely a "downstream party" because it didn't develop the chips, but merely purchased them from Broadcom. The technology is vital to the 802.11n and 802.11ac WiFi standards, though its inventor said that the patents (related to data transmission tech), weren't originally designed for WiFi. 
Broadcom remains a major Apple supplier, having recently signed a $15 billion agreement to furnish chips for upcoming iPhones and other products. It remains to be seen if CalTech will go after other device manufacturers, but told Reuters that it is "committed to protecting its intellectual property in furtherance of its mission to expand human knowledge."
Source: Reuters

Have you heard? Emoji selection will become more gender-inclusive this year.




The Unicode Consortium has revealed 117 new emoji for 2020, and they will make your emoji arsenal more inclusive than ever. a number of the upcoming additions have the ability to make conversations with friends extra funsuch as the smiling face with a unmarried tear and the hand with pinched palms known as the "Italian hand gesture." This batch also provides new skintone and gender-inclusive alternatives for present emoji, together with the veil, the tuxedo and the feeding child emoji. for the time beingthose emoji only portrays a womana man and a female, respectively.

The transgender flag and symbol also are coming to gadgets as a part of the new batch. Google and Microsoft sponsored the inspiration to feature the trans flag and symbol last yr, and in it the tech giants wrote: "[We] agree with that including an emoji illustrative to our lifestyles reviews isn't always just about developing era that should be on hand to each person -- it is approximately fostering lifestyle that is including users around global."

other first rate additions are the ninja emoji, the practical looking coronary heart and lung emoji and the bubble tea emoji. it is nonetheless unclear while the new batch is making its way to customerssimply take be aware that they will look special from the samples visible heredepending in your tool and the platform or internet site you are using.

Source: Unicode, Engadget.

Angry Nigerians trend Aisha Buhari on Twitter, see why.

Aisha Buhari recently pleaded with the people of Kogi state to forgive Yahaya Bello and vote for him.

Yahaya Bello whose first term was filled with accusations and unpaid salaries is going for the second term, and the First Lady is now asking the masses to forgive his first term and re-elect him.

Remember that the same first lady accused her husband of bad leadership, and then also asked Nigerians to re-elect him.

Well, Nigerians are not taking it lightly this time.

See tweets:




AirFly Pro can stream Bluetooth audio to and from any 3.5mm jack



The advantage of switching to wireless headphones is not having to worry about cords getting tangled up and tugging uncomfortably at your ears. The downside, however, is that there are still plenty of devices out in the world which only output audio through a 3.5mm jack. Apple accessory company TwelveSouth has a solution, with a new dongle that converts an aux-in jack to a wireless receiver so you can listen to just about anything with your AirPods or other wireless headphones.
TwelveSouth came out with its regular AirFly last year, offering a way to making AirPods and some other Bluetooth headphones compatible with anything with a headphone jack. The dongle worked well in our testing on a plane journey and when playing the Nintendo Switch.

The new AirFly Pro model offers more functionality, including working as a splitter so you can listen to a movie, music or video game along with a friend. It also has a battery which should last up to 16 hours, so it'll cover coast-to-coast flights with no problem. That's larger than the AirFly Classic's 8 hour battery but not quite as long-lasting as the Duo or USB-C models which last up to 20 hours.
The real genius, though, is the AirFly Pro's ability to turn any aux-in port into a wireless receiver. With this function, you can send audio from your phone to an older car stereo, connect your headphones to a treadmill at the gym or send music from your phone to a home stereo.
Credit: Engadget

20+ Scholarships in Australia for International Students (+Fully Funded) 2019/2020



Looking for Undergraduate, Masters or PhD scholarships in Australia for international students? You’ve found it. Universities in Australia maintain two or three semesters/trimesters in the year – autumn (November-March), spring (February-June) and summer (June-November). Applications for scholarships in Australia are usually set a few months before the beginning of the summer session.

More undergraduate scholarships are offered by Australian universities, followed by research scholarships. The Australia Africa Awards are offered for Masters and PhD taught degrees. To get these scholarships, you are required to meet the English Language requirements. However, there are some scholarships which may conditionally be offered to eligible international students without IELTS/TOEFL.

How to Apply to Study in Australia

Applying to Australian institutions is easy, although it will take some time and careful planning. Remember that you can ask for help and advice from the institution you are applying to, your local Australian visa office and education agents in your country.

Here is some steps to take to help with your course application:

Step 1: Choose your course and university in Australia

Carefully research courses, universities and their locations. Consider the areas of specialization offered through different courses and which specializations will best suit your intended career path. Once you have decided on the best course, you need to find out which universities offer it and best suits your requirements. You should consider the size of the campus, the available facilities and the support services offered for international students.

Step 2: Apply

Before you apply, check the academic and English language entry requirements to ensure you are eligible. Contact your institution, through their website and ask about their application requirements and deadlines, as these will differ for each university. Most times the information you need are already available of the university’s website. Make a note of important deadlines to make sure you meet them. International students usually apply directly to Australian institutions, either by post or online.

Most application forms require you to supply:

your personal details
certified proof of your level of English language proficiency
details of your previous academic qualifications, such as academic transcripts
your course preferences  — the course(s) you are applying for
a summary of your employment experience (if applicable).
Most institutions charge a non-refundable application fee of around AUD$50 to $100 that must be included with your application. Some institutions waive this fee if the application is made online. If, at any time during the application process, you are uncertain about how to proceed, don’t hesitate to contact the university you are applying to — they are there to help you.

Step 3: Have your application processed

Once the university receives your application it will be assessed and you will be notified of the result. It may take a few weeks (longer for postgraduate applications) before your application is processed.

Step 4: Accept your offer

If your application is accepted, you will receive a letter of offer and an acceptance form. Before accepting the offer, you should carefully read the letter of offer and check any conditions that may apply. You will need to meet these conditions before the institution issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You may also be required to pay tuition fees before your institution issues a CoE. The institution will advise you of its requirements.

Step 5: Prepare for departure

Once you have been accepted, it is time to apply for your student visa. You are able to apply for your student visa using either your letter of offer or your CoE, but you will need to supply evidence of your CoE before your student visa is granted.

Cost of Study and living in Australia

Australia’s high-quality courses, supportive institutions, liveable cities and excellent lifestyle make it an economical option for international students. Please note that course fees can vary widely and should always be researched with the relevant institution. Your living costs will vary according to factors such as your lifestyle and location.

Undergraduate degrees cost AUS$15,000 to $33,000 per year, Masters degrees cost AUS$20,000 to $37,000 per year* whereas doctoral degrees cost AUS$14,000 to $37,000 per year depending on the institution. MBA programs cost AUS$11,000 to $121,000 per year. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) cost $4000 to $22,000 per year

Living costs in Australia, depending on your lifestyle cost AUS$230 to $940 per week. Above information is according to studyinaustralia.gov.au


40+ Scholarships in Australia for International Students

There are a range of scholarships available for international students wishing to study in Australia. Scholarships in Australia for international students are typically offered by

Your Australian education institution: Contact the international student team or look through their website for institution-wide and faculty-specific international student scholarships.
Your accommodation provider: Some residential colleges and other accommodation providers offer scholarships for international students to assist with accommodation costs.
The Australian Government: The Australian Government offers an extensive range of scholarships for international students under the Australia Awards scheme for both achievement and development, including Endeavour Awards, Australia Awards Scholarships, Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships and Australia Awards Fellowships.
Organisations: This includes relevant organisations based in Australia and your home country, as well as international organisations, including charities, industry associations and large companies.
We have put together a comprehensive list of scholarships in Australia for International students. Be sure to bookmark this page because we will be updating it from time to time.

1.     Australian Government Research Training Programme (RTP) Scholarships for International Students
On 31 December 2016, the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) ceased and was replaced by the Research Training Program (RTP). The Research Training Program (RTP) scheme is administered by individual universities on behalf of the Department of Education and Training.

Application Deadline: Varying by universities (usually May-October)

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: Students can be offered RTP scholarships for one or more of the following:

tuition fees offset
stipend for general living costs
allowances related to the ancillary cost of research degrees.
Duration of Award: Two (2) years for a research masters degree and Three (3) years for a research doctorate degree.

2.     Commonwealth Government University of Newcastle Scholarships for Masters & PhD Students
The University of Newcastle Australia offers University and Commonwealth government scholarships for Research Masters & PhD degree to international students.

Application Deadlines:

Round 1: 16th February
Round 2: 1st September.
Number of Scholarships: Several

Value of Scholarship: A scholarship funded by the University of Newcastle or the Commonwealth Government provides an annual living allowance of $27,082 per annum (2018 rate – indexed annually). The scholarships for international students cover the cost of tuition fees, and in some cases include the cost of compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover. All domestic students have their fees covered by the RTP, to a maximum of 4 years for PhD candidates and 2 years for MPhil students.

Duration of Scholarship: PhD scholarships are for three years and Masters scholarships are for two years.

3.     University of South Australia (UNISA) Scholarships for International Students
The University of South Australia offers the following scholarships to international applicants.

Research Training Program international (RTPi) Scholarships
University President’s Scholarships (UPS)
International Research Tuition Scholarship (IRTS)
Application Deadlines:

Research Training Program international (RTPi) Scholarships: 31st August
University President’s Scholarships (UPS): 31st August
International Research Tuition Scholarship (IRTS): Rolling
Research Training Program international (RTPi) Scholarships: Research Training Program international (RTPi) Scholarships are funded by the Australian Government and awarded to international candidates on the basis of academic merit and research potential.

Value and Duration of Award:

An RTPi scholarship will cover your tuition fees and your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and provide a stipend (living allowance), but will not pay for travel expenses. A thesis allowance is funded to cover the cost of printing and binding the thesis.
At least $27,082 per annum for 3 years, with the possibility of one six-month extension.
University President’s Scholarships (UPS): University President’s Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit.

Value of Award:

A UPS will cover tuition fees and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The living allowance must be provided by the University of South Australia centre, school, division where an applicant has applied. The minimum rate is the RTP Stipend  base rate. In some cases, the living allowance may be provided by a sponsor or external funding provider.
The benefits and conditions are based on those applicable to the RTPi scholarship; however, they may be amended depending on the source of the living allowance; any offer made will detail the benefits and conditions that apply.
Travel expenses are not covered by the scholarship.
International Research Tuition Scholarship (IRTS): International Research Tuition Scholarships (IRTS) are awarded to international candidates on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated research capability, and who will be supported during their degree by a full living stipend supported by external funding.

Value and Duration of Award:

The IRTS will cover the international tuition fee for 3 years (plus a possibility of a 6 month extension) for a PhD student and the international tuition fee for 2 years for a research master’s student.
The scholarship does not cover overseas health cover and applicants are responsible for ensuring they have visa length overseas health cover for themselves and, if applicable, their family.
4.     Vera Thiess Fellowship for Women in Developing Countries
The International River Foundation’s Vera Thiess Fellowship for Women gives women from developing countries the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through the IRF and its partners, with the goal of advancing women’s participation in water and river management. This fellowship goes not only towards supporting the selected candidate, but towards continuing the important work of bridging the gap in women’s participation in river basin management.

Application Deadline: 13th July.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: The recipient of the Vera Thiess Fellowship will be funded to attend the International River symposium in Sydney, where the fellowship will be formally awarded.

Duration of Programme: 5 days

5.     JMC Academy International Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
To support passionate, talented and dedicated students to excel in their creative industry careers, JMC Academy offers international student scholarships. Each scholarship covers two trimesters of study. One scholarship will be awarded for each JMC Academy campus (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney). Scholarship recipients will become JMC Academy Student Ambassadors.

Application Deadline: 29th September

Number of Awards: 3

Value of the Program: Tuition waiver.

Duration of Program: Each scholarship covers two trimesters of study.

6.     Curtin Business School Innovation Scholarship for International Students
The CBS Innovation International Scholarship is part of Curtin University’s commitment to innovation and excellence in teaching and research, for the benefit of students and the wider community. Students applying for the CBS Innovation International Scholarship are required to show insight and creative ideas in relation to their future profession and demonstrate a strong understanding of their chosen course of study.

Application Deadline: 17th November

Fields of Study: 

Bachelor of Commerce (Business Information Systems) single major
Bachelor of Commerce (Business Information Technology) single major
Bachelor of Commerce (Business Information Technology and Systems) double major
Number of Awardees: 5

Value of Scholarship:

A total value of up to $9,000 paid as a cash stipend of $1,500 per semester.
The amount can be used at the recipient’s discretion to contribute towards educational related expenses.
Payments occur post census date each semester. Payments will be made approximately mid-end April and September each year.
Duration of Scholarship: A maximum of three years.

7.     Sydney Scholar Awards for International Students
The Sydney Scholars Awards offers Year 12 (SS 3) students commencing their undergraduate studies the opportunity to apply for scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 in value and awarded in duration from one year, up to 5 years (combined degrees).

Application Deadline: 2nd October

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Scholarship: Scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $10,000

Duration of Scholarship: From one year, up to 5 years

8.     International Scholarship Program at University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide, Australia is offering a scholarship program for commencing international students undertaking undergraduate study.

The University of Adelaide offers a scholarship program to eligible applicants completing Foundation Studies or secondary studies overseas or in Australia, or those transferring into the later years of an undergraduate degree with advanced standing

Application Deadline: 19th January

Number of Awardees: Up to 40 scholarships available each year

Value of Scholarship: The scholarship will provide each successful candidate a waiver of 25% of the annual tuition fee for each year of the program for the full duration of the program.

Duration of Scholarship: Four(4) years

9.     International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded based on a 3 component application process, which will result in the successful applicant being awarded a scholarship within one of the following bachelor programs: Hospitality Management, International Tourism, Event Management, Business Management, Sports Management, Property Management.

Application Deadline: 4th August

Number of Awardees: One (1)

Value of Scholarship: $25 000.00

Duration of Scholarship: Duration of course

10.                        Griffith University International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships
Griffith International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships are offered to outstanding international high school graduates applying for studies at Griffith University.

Griffith International offers Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships valued at $5,000 each to outstanding international high school graduates applying for undergraduate studies at Griffith University. Two payments of $2,500 will be made towards each recipient’s tuition fees in the first and second semester of the first year of their program.

Application Deadlines: 18th May and 7th September

Eligible African Countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria or Ghana

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Scholarship: The scholarship covers 25 % of tuition fees that will be deducted from undergraduate tuition fees for the duration of the program.

Duration of Scholarship: Full duration of Program.

11.                        Griffith University A-Level Scholarships for International Students
Griffith International student A level Scholarships are offered to outstanding international high school graduates applying for studies at Griffith University.

Application Deadlines: 18th May and 7th September

Eligible Countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of the Program:  Scholarship covers 10 % of tuition fees in the first two trimesters of study.

12.                        UQ’s Academic Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
UQ’s Academic Scholarship program aims to reward the achievements of outstanding school leavers and gap year students. There are three categories of Academic Scholarship on offer; UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships, UQ Excellence Scholarships and UQ Merit Scholarships. Up to 150 scholarships are offered each year, including up to 50 Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships, 50 Excellence Scholarships and 50 Merit Scholarships.

Application Deadline: 31 October

Number of Scholarships: Up to 150 scholarships are offered each year, including up to 50 Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships, 50 Excellence Scholarships and 50 Merit Scholarships.

Three  scholarships are available:

Value of the Program

UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships: $12,000 per year for up to 5 years for undergraduate and any subsequent postgraduate coursework study (if applicable).

UQ Excellence Scholarships: $6,000 per year for up to 4 years for undergraduate and any subsequent postgraduate coursework study (if applicable).

UQ Merit Scholarships: $6,000 for the first year of study

13.                        Melbourne Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
 The International Undergraduate Scholarships were established by the University of Melbourne in recognition of the significant contribution made by international students to the diversity of the University’s student population.

Application Deadlines:  There are five selection rounds:

November, December and January for students starting in Semester 1 or 2
April and May for students starting in Semester 2
Number of Awardees: 50

Duration of Scholarship: Full-time

Value of Scholarship: The International Undergraduate scholarship provides one of the following benefits:

one off $10,000 fee remission from tuition fees in the first year of an undergraduate degree; or
50% remission from tuition fees for the normal full-time duration of an undergraduate degree; or
100% remission from tuition fees for the normal full-time duration of an undergraduate degree.
14.                        Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships at University of Western Sydney
Each year, the University of Western Sydney, Australia awards the Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships for International students commencing their study Application Deadline: 4 May

Field of Study: Any CRICOS registered undergraduate degree (does not apply to the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery).

Number of Awardees: not specified

Value of Scholarship:

Fifty percent of tuition fees per annum up to a maximum three year.
The scholarship is a tuition fee waiver and does not cover costs associated living expenses, accommodation, transport, overseas student health cover or other costs associated with study.
Duration of Scholarship: Three years only

15.                        Africa Scholarships at Macquarie University
Under the Africa scholarships, Macquarie University will provide a specific amount annually to each successful student commencing in their study. As this scholarship is competitive, you are encouraged to accept your course and scholarship offers without delay to guarantee your eligibility to receive the scholarship.

Application Deadline: 30th June

Number of Scholarships: Not specified

Value of Scholarship: The University of Macquarie provides AU$5000 annually towards your tuition fees for the length of the course

Duration of Scholarship: The scholarship is awarded annually for on-campus study only.

16. University of Queensland Science International Scholarship
The University of Queensland scholarships are available for outstanding international students in undergraduate or postgraduate coursework programs in science at UQ.

Application Deadlines: 1st June

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Scholarship: AU$3,000 or AU$10,000 depending on the award

17. Monash University Australia Full Merit Scholarship for International Students
Monash University, Australia offers up to 31 full scholarships to international students undertaking Undergraduate or Postgraduate (coursework) degree at the University.

Application Deadlines: several rounds in the year

Number of Awardees: 31

Value of Scholarship: 100% course fees paid until the minimum number of points for your degree are completed.

Duration of Scholarship: Duration of programme. However, you must maintain a distinction average (70% or above) each semester to retain this scholarship.

18. University of Waikato International Excellence Scholarship
The Scholarship was established to promote educational opportunities, foster internationalization and support talented international students who are enrolling into foundation, undergraduate, or postgraduate programmes for the first time at the University of Waikato.

19.                        Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships at Macquarie University
The Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship provides a partial tuition fee scholarship for outstanding students to study at Macquarie University North Ryde campus. It has been designed to recognize academic excellence and provide financial assistance for international students. The Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship is country-specific and will be awarded progressively through the year to future applicants to Macquarie University.

Application Deadline: Session 2: 30th June. Session 1: 31st January

Eligible Field of Study: Priority areas include Engineering, Environment, Human Science, Media, Linguistics, and Education.

Number of Scholarships: not specified

Value of the Program: a Partial Scholarship of up to AUD$10,000 and it will be applied towards your tuition fee.

Duration of Scholarship: The Scholarship is a single scholarship and not available to be renewed.

20.     Australia Awards Post-Doctoral Fellowship for African Academics
The Australia Awards – Africa program offers Post-Doctoral Fellowships in partnership with the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN). The Pilot Post-Doctoral Fellowship program seeks to develop on-going educational, research and professional linkages between individuals and universities that are members of the AAUN, in Australia and Ghana, Kenya or South Africa

Application Deadline: 30th November

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of the Program: include fees that are common for all Awardees and costs that may be applicable depending on individual fellowship conditions.

Duration of Program: Fellowships will be up to two years in total, comprised of research components in both Australia and Ghana, Kenya or South Africa but limited to 12 months in Australia.

21. University of Queensland Master of Leadership in Global Development Scholarship for Developing Countries
The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage and support international students from low to middle income countries with demonstrated frontline experience of working on development projects. Applicants must have a stated desire and purpose to bring frontline learning to higher levels of aid organizations and development policy arenas. Applicants must have been educationally disadvantaged as a result of their financial circumstances.

Application Deadline: 6th November

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of the Program: The value of the scholarship is $36,688 (indexed annually)

22. IWC Master’s Scholarships in Australia for International Students
The IWC Masters Scholarships are prestigious scholarships awarded annually to high calibre candidates who clearly demonstrate potential to become future water leaders. Scholarships are available to study the IWC Master of Integrated Water Management (MIWM). The scholarship targets future water leaders from developing countries in Asia-Pacific, Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle-East.

Application Deadline: 1st August

Number of Scholarship: Up to two full tuition

Value of the Program: Each scholarship is valued at AU$92,645and will cover:

Full tuition fees for full-time study (up to AU$52,500 for 18 months of study)
Living expenses stipend (valued at AU$36,000 for 16 months)
Return air travel to Australia
UQ Student Services and Amenities Fee (valued at AU$145)
Cost of Student Visa for a single student (valued at AU$550)
Cost of the Overseas Student Health Cover for a single student (valued at AU$950 for 18 months).

10 Unique Perspectives On What Makes A Great Leader


All business owners and executives have varying experiences and perspectives on the approach and qualities necessary for effective leadership. And not all situations require the same type of leadership style. Great leaders adapt to their surrounding environments and empower the team to succeed together.
Many experts across countless leadership books and articles agree on certain principles required for leading a team to greatness, but when it comes down to it, the most important factor is whether or not the leader is getting the job done.
My philosophies on leadership have evolved over time through research, experiences in combat as a Navy SEAL and from my successes and failures running my own businesses. I believe that the best leaders are passionate about developing the emerging leaders around them, they constantly work to improve their emotional intelligence and know that a strong team culture is the foundation for accomplishing the mission. They are in a perpetual state of preparation and embrace the inevitable changes their businesses will face.
For the purposes of this article however, I wanted to get other business leaders’ perspectives by having them answer one question:
In your opinion, what makes a great leader?

Their responses were collected in partnership with the American Board of Experts™. Here they are!
1 - Have Faith in Their Beliefs
"It's a mix of a lot of things, but first and foremost it's about having faith in your beliefs. You can't expect others to consider you a leader unless you have solid faith in your ideas. And once it's there, you build on it by being a good communicator, listening to others, setting examples and by putting your best foot forward and not giving up. Leadership is all about being passionate about what you do, and having confidence in yourself and your followers whom you have to motivate and inspire."
Matei Gavril, CEO at PrMediaOnline
2 - Make the Hard Choice
“Great leaders make the hard choice, and self-sacrifice in order to enhance the lives of others around them. As a business owner, not only does your family rely on you - so too, do the families of those who work for you. Each employee has a family. Even if you're a small business owner with four employees, you're in essence potentially responsible for an additional ten or fifteen people.”
Joel Farar, Farar Law Group
3 - Earn the Respect of the Team
“Having the ability to show respect, empathy, and care to those that follow you, are all attributed to being a great leader. Earning respect is crucial to a successful relationship with someone, while also showing that you care about their work or ideas. Being empathetic allows a leader to tap into the emotions of that individual in order to connect in a way that lets that person know you understand what it means to be in their situation. Combining all three of these traits can definitely make someone a great leader. These are things I work on constantly with my own staff and myself, all in order to become a better leader to those I care about.”
Brandon Swenson, SEO Pros
4 - Know the Team
"Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of every individual to effectively manage the outcome of a team is imperative for success. Leaders have a great vision and use the resources at hand to solve problems. They take risks and make hard decisions, knowing they could sometimes be wrong. Those are the most important qualities of a real leader that work similarly in our professional and personal lives."
Alex Gerasimov, Insomnia Escape Room DC
5 - Know That the People are the Key to Success
“A great leader understands that it is the people they lead that ultimately determines the success or failure of any venture. They surround themselves with great people that they can cultivate into a team of competent, confident individuals who can work well as a team. They then have the ability to guide this team towards a well-defined vision by clearly communicating short and long terms goals, inspiring confidence and trust among colleagues, and influencing common efforts through character rather than by a position of authority. Ultimately, a great leader creates and nurtures other leaders.”
Randy Soderman, Founder of Soderman Marketing SEO
6 - Articulate a Clear Vision
“A great leader posses a clear vision, is courageous, has integrity, honesty, humility and clear focus. He or she is a strategic planner and believes in teamwork. Great leaders help people reach their goals, are not afraid to hire people that might be better than them and take pride in the accomplishments of those they help along the way.”
Bhagi Rath, Mattress Inquirer, Do Your Research to Find a Great Bed
7 - Push People to Be Their Best
"Great leaders have clarity of purpose and are great at articulating their beliefs. I aspire to be the kind of leader that pushes people to be the very best they can be but still make people feel safe because it starts with the heart."
Amas Tenumah, CEO BetterXperience
8 - Serve a Greater Cause
“Great leadership is determined by one’s periodical blend of personal humility and unparalleled will to lead others in service of a cause bigger than themselves. Great leaders are incredibly ambitious, but never for themselves. Rather, they are ambitious for the company and possess the will do do whatever is necessary in service of this greater cause.”
Jake Rheude, Director of Business Development for Red Stag Fulfillment
9 - Focus on Helping the Team
"Someone who leads by positive direction and builds agreement among its group members towards the accomplishment of a coordinated goal. Ultimately, leadership is not about who is in charge. It's about making sure your team stays focused on the goals, keeping them motivated and helping them be the best they can be to achieve those goals. This is especially true when the risks are high and the consequences matter."
Kara Kelly, Executive Director of CompleteContents.com
10 - Do Not Lead by Force
“A great leader does not lead by forcing people to follow. Instead, a great leader motivates people. They encourage others to follow them. They also lead by example, which few leaders do today.”
Mike Dan, SMS Marketing
Being an effective leader requires constant focus, perseverance and building a team that is accountable and designed get results. Without the team there can be no real leadership. These ten unique perspectives provide great insight while also validating certain commonalities.
Many of us in leadership or management positions know what we need to do to be better leaders, we just sometimes fail to act. Being a great leader requires constant personal and professional development, regular transparent feedback from the team, self-reflection and taking action on feedback received. Great leaders are rarely satisfied with their performance.
Source: Forbes

Keeping Sales Personal In Insurance And Avoiding Commoditization


Sales has historically been a business of relationship-building, learning about your shoppers’ challenges and needs, and using the right combination of products and messaging to make them customers. Selling on price alone is not preferred, as customers are less loyal to your brand and more likely to switch providers if they find a better deal.
In insurance, particularly property and casualty, product commoditization has become an issue as customers increasingly point to price as the reason they choose an insurer. And, as a growing number of sales are happening online, for simple products as well as those that have historically been too expensive or complex to bind digitally, insurers and agents face a dilemma.
Digitization can't be undone, but how can relatively consistent products, such as auto and homeowners insurance, be sold in a way that builds customer loyalty and maintains profitability?

Early Action Is Critical
The effects of technological developments have long been seen in auto insurance, where the proportion of policies purchased entirely directly has grown to 30%, according to a McKinsey industry survey. Products that are more expensive and complex have been somewhat shielded from this trend, but a growing number of “insurtech” startups and improvements in digitization have begun to change what can be done and what consumers are comfortable purchasing online.
Homeowners insurance, for instance, costs an average of $1,083 per year, and its purchase requires a significantly larger amount of information from a shopper, such as details of a home's structure and additions. Correspondingly, online purchasing has lagged behind auto insurance, with just 6% of purchases being direct in 2011 as compared to 27% for auto. Now startups like Lemonade (a Value Penguin partner) and Hippo are using technology to simplify the process. One way they do this is by automatically filling in home details based on your address, similar to early features seen when auto insurance quoting began to move online.
And small-business insurance, long seen as too complex to go entirely digital, is beginning to see direct adoption as well. Insurtechs such as Next Insurance are removing complexity barriers by targeting groups of shoppers with highly consistent risk profiles, such as personal trainers.
The Value Of A Personal Touch
The battle isn't lost for insurers and agents — a McKinsey survey showed that brand strength and creating a personal relationship are still two of the greatest differentiators for customers. While an increasing number of customers have gone the entirely digital route, the majority continue to use agents for the final product purchase. In addition, 46% work with agents post-purchase when they have questions or need services related to their policies.
Insurance has relatively few touch points, so maximizing the "personal touch" in each interaction can be incredibly important to building customer loyalty, something that can be done at all levels. Some insurers, for example, have begun to use phone number and voice recognition to immediately pull up information related to a client, without needing to ask their name and policy numbers at the beginning of each call. This reduces a client's hassles and shapes a more positive view of interactions with your company.
Building Product Loyalty
Given touch points are relatively limited in insurance, a newer approach to increasing customer loyalty has involved increasing touch points and offering a wider set of interconnected services. According to a Bain report, customers favor this "ecosystem" approach so strongly they would be willing to pay higher premiums or even switch insurers if another offered the right services.
Depending on your product and target customers, the right ecosystem to build will vary, but homeowners insurance companies are some of the first to test the waters. By partnering with startups that offer remote home monitoring or security products, and providing discounts to those customers that use them, insurers get multiple advantages. 
First, they meet the customer's desire for an ecosystem solution and provide a discount, both positive consumer experiences. In addition, by focusing on ecosystem solutions that reduce risks, such as notifying a client and authority immediately about a break-in, insurers may be able to reduce claim frequency and severity. Finally, customers with physical solutions integrated into their homes or businesses have greater barriers to switching if they want to maintain the discounts or other ecosystem benefits provided.
By combining highly personalized touch points, adjusting products to better fit clients needs and better integrating your services into their routines, loyalty can be built to fight the growing commoditization trend. It just needs to be done quickly, before consumer patterns have changed too significantly toward a price-switching model.
Source: Forbes